Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins: The fifth most populous city in Colorado.
About
Fort Collins is a city located in the county of Larimer in the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population at the 2010 census was 143,986. After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 168,234 inhabitants.
The city was created 162 years ago in 1863.
Fort Collins is a mid-sized city situated along Colorado's Front Range north of Denver. With a population of over 168,000, it's the fourth most populous city in Colorado. Fort Collins serves as the county seat for Larimer County.
History
The area was inhabited by Native American tribes like the Arapaho before European settlers arrived in the mid-1800s. The city was established in 1864 as a U.S. Army fort to protect the Overland Trail. It was named after Colonel William O. Collins.
When the fort was decommissioned, settlers established a permanent town near the fort which was incorporated in 1873. Agriculture and ranching drove the early economy.
Colorado State University
In 1879, Colorado State University was established in Fort Collins, which helped expand the city. As the state's land-grant university, CSU conducts important research and has over 33,000 students. It's the largest employer in town.
Business and Technology
Over the decades, Fort Collins has developed into a hub for high-tech companies and advanced industries like biotechnology and computer hardware. Major firms include Hewlett-Packard and Anheuser-Busch.
The city also contains breweries like New Belgium and a vibrant Old Town district packed with shops, eateries, and small businesses.
Outdoor Recreation
Surrounded by nature and the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins offers plenty of outdoor recreation. Activities include:
- Hiking and biking in Horsetooth Mountain Park
- Camping and boating at Horsetooth Reservoir
- Fishing and rafting on the Cache la Poudre River
- Skiing and snowboarding at nearby resorts
Fort Collins provides the amenities of a college town, the industries of a technology hub, and the outdoor culture of Colorado - all along the scenic Front Range.
Quick Facts about Fort Collins
| Population | 168,234 (2020) |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Colorado (United States) |
| County | Larimer County |
| Postal code | 80521–80528 |
| Phone Area Codes | 970 |
| Water as percent of area | 2.26% |
| Land as percent of area | 97.74% |
| Latitude & Longitude | 40.5853,-105.0844 |
| Altitude | 5,003 feet / 1525 meters |
| Capital city | Fort Collins is capital of Larimer County |
| Establishment | January 01, 1864 (162 years ago) |
| Time Zone | Mountain Time Zone |
| Local time | 15:45:46 (14th April 2026) |
| Population growth | 14.41% (2010-2020) |
| Weather | 37℉ Chance Rain Showers 7-days weather |
Geography
Fort Collins is located at 40°35'7"N 105°5'4"W (40.5852600, -105.0844200).
Fort Collins map
icon to open full mode. View satellite images
Weather
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
7-Day ForecastOfficial website of Fort Collins
Official WebsiteDemographics
The population of Fort Collins increased by 14.41% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 143,986 | - | census |
| 2011 | 146,673 | 1.83% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 149,508 | 1.9% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 152,668 | 2.07% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 156,804 | 2.64% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 160,991 | 2.6% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 163,004 | 1.23% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 165,541 | 1.53% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 168,324 | 1.65% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 170,243 | 1.13% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 168,234 | -1.19% | estimation process |
Services and Civic Places in Fort Collins
1Fort Collins City Clerk
300 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80521 View details
Phone: +19702216515 | Website available
2Fort Collins City Hall
300 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80521 View details
Phone: +19702216515
3Fort Collins Manager
300 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80521 View details
Phone: +19702216505
4City of Fort Collins
424 W Mulberry St, Fort Collins, CO 80521 View details
Phone: +19702216659 | Website available
5Fort Collins Human Resources
215 N Mason St, Fort Collins, CO 80524 View details
Phone: +19702216535 | Website available
6Fort Collins City Attorney
300 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80521 View details
Phone: +19702216520 | Website available
People born in Fort Collins (78)
People born in Fort Collins, including alpine skier Andy Mill, electronic music artist Pretty Lights, actor Jon Heder, .
More notable people
- Jake Lloyd (American actor) he was born in 05/03/1989
- Harper Goff (American musician (1911-1993)) he was born in 16/03/1911
- Wayne Allard (US politician) he was born in 02/12/1943
- Allen Bert Christman (cartoonist) he was born in 31/05/1915
- Byron White (Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, American football player (1917-2002)) he was born in 08/06/1917
- Richard S. Westfall (American historian) he was born in 22/04/1924
- Jacob Rosenbarger (American bicycle racer) he was born in 06/08/1978
- Jeremy Bloom (American skier) he was born in 02/04/1982
- Darnell McDonald (baseball player, outfielder in the Chicago Cubs organization) he was born in 17/11/1978
- Jon Cooper (Player of American football) he was born in 01/10/1986
- Travis Lane Stork (American physician) he was born in 09/03/1972
- Ryan Sutter (Player of American football) he was born in 14/09/1974
- Isaac Adamson (American mystery writer) he was born in 01/01/1971
- Sheldon Deeny (American bicycle racer) he was born in 14/10/1984
- Brian Lawrence (American baseball player) he was born in 14/05/1976
- Bruce McEwen (American neuroscientist) he was born in 17/01/1938
- Bruce Whitehead (Water engineer and Colorado legislator)
- Chester Howard West (United States Army Medal of Honor recipient) he was born in 03/01/1888
Nearby Schools and Colleges
Schools and campuses linked to Fort Collins, CO. Select a name to open its map and contact details.
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 126818 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins (CO) | 80523-0100 |
| 372329 | IBMC College | Fort Collins (CO) | 80525 |
| 381866 | Healing Arts Institute | Fort Collins (CO) | 80525-3479 |
| 448761 | CollegeAmerica-Fort Collins | Fort Collins (CO) | 80525 |
| 381699 | Cheeks Beauty Academy | Loveland (CO) | 80538 |
Nearby Transit Stations (9)
Rail and bus stations connected to Fort Collins, CO. Select a station to open its map and address details.
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCC | Fort Collins, Colorado | 250 North Mason St. | BUS |
| LGM | Longmont, Colorado | 623 Main St. | BUS |
| BLD | Boulder, Colorado | 30th & Diagonal Highway | BUS |
| CHY | Cheyenne, Wyoming | 222 Deming Drive | BUS |
| GRA | Granby | 438 Railroad Avenue | RAIL |
Closest post offices linked to Fort Collins.
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins Old Town Station Post Office | Fort Collins (CO) | 80521 |
| Fort Collin Post Office | Fort Collins (CO) | 80525 |
| Lapor Post Office | Laporte (CO) | 80535 |
| Bellvu Post Office | Bellvue (CO) | 80512 |
| Timnath Post Office | Timnath (CO) | 80547 |
Other cities in Larimer County
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Larimer County , CO.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Loveland | 83,517 | The eighth most populous city in Colorado. |
| Berthoud | 10,806 | Town of the United States |
| Wellington | 9,620 | Town in Colorado, United States |
| Estes Park | 6,553 | Town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States |
| Timnath | 3,193 | Human settlement in Larimer County, Colorado, United States of America |
| Campion | 1,839 | Unincorporated community in Colorado |
Distance to Other Cities
Fort Collins distances to largest Colorado cities